Rupert Gillies

Write an essay which explores the extent to which you consider the play to be an
examination of psychological or political corruption

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William Shakespeare’s Macbeth deeply examines the ideologies of physical and political
corruption through the utilisation of extensive ideas and concepts. Murder and its effect on
the protagonist, Macbeth, has detrimental influence on his psychological state. Lady
Macbeth also does this; through the gender bias abuse she inflicts upon her husband. The
deterioration of Macbeths psychological state leads to a downfall in political stability, which
is further aided by the supernatural world.

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The murder of King Duncan, a virtuous, benevolent, and farsighted ruler, was committed by
the protagonist of the story, Macbeth. Prior to the killing, Macbeth was unwilling to go
fourth with the act, however, through the influential and gender-stereotypical words of
Lady Macbeth, he managed to commit to the crime. The killing had severe psychological
affects upon Macbeth, sending him down a spiral of mental deterioration, of which
intensified throughout the story, causing greater and greater political disturbance. Lady
Macbeth uses this gender related language in attempt to mentally convince Macbeth to
commit the murder, making it seem as though if he didn’t, he wasn’t a true man. The idea of
Lady influencing Macbeth to murder Duncan can be seen in: “It is too full o’ the milk of
human kindness”. This statement made by Lady Macbeth, within Act 1, Scenes 5-6, clearly
conveys the degrading nature of Lady Macbeth against her husband. Comparing Macbeth to
being feminine in such a way was seen as highly offensive and of great concern to Macbeth,
as to him it was another way of describing him as ‘soft’ and ‘incapable’, and as an aspiring
political leader, hearing such words from his wife was greatly concerning. The deterioration
of Macbeths mental state, resulting from Lady Macbeths pressure, can be further explored
in: “Is this a dagger which I see before me, / The handle toward my hand? Come, let me
clutch thee.”. The use of visual imagery and hallucinatory description by Macbeth can
clearly show the mental affects Lady Macbeth is having upon Macbeth, thanks to the
pressure and verbal abuse she is giving him, relating to him being feminine. The quote can
also show Macbeth giving into killing Duncan, due to psychological torture, which can be
proven through the fact that he his hallucinating the murder weapon. This can further
foreshadow the story’s future, foretelling the destined doom of Macbeths upcoming
political leadership.

Link to ‘crime against god’ – from killing Duncan

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Rupert Gillies

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Plan:
Introduction:
- Address the question
Shakespeare’s Macbeth is largely an examination of psychological and political
corruption, thanks to a series of themes and ideas within the play.
- Three themes/concepts within the play that turn the play into an examination of
psychological and political corruption
1. The effects of killing Duncan and the requirement to murder on Macbeths
mental state. Could also link to being a crime against God in balance, creating
political corruption.
2. Lady Macbeth and her psychological effects upon Macbeth, creating a gender
bias situation deliberately used to manipulate Macbeth. This can then be
elaborated on in relation to how this disrupts political outlook in the literary
world.
3. The witches and the supernatural (and the deriving affect it has on the
psychological and political side of the play)

Lady Macbeth, the spouse of Macbeth, has a will to kill purely out of love, and a pure drive
for power. This drive to kill presents psychopathy within her characters personality. She
uses these psychopathic and manipulative traits to influence Macbeth into killing Duncan
using sexist, gender-bias and derogatory language. This manipulation hence affects Macbeth
psychological state and the political stability he holds throughout the story.